Local couple takes on Lakeville golf course

Thursday

Oct 27, 2011 at 11:57 AM

By CINDY DOW

By CINDY DOW

Associate Editor

LAKEVILLE — The smell of fresh paint still lingers in the air as Madelyn Maksy sits at the desk in her new office at the former Lakeville Country Club. Her husband, Derek, is outside discussing the colors of the buildings on the course with the painting crew. He wants them all the same color scheme, to present a more cohesive look. The couple passed papers on the property earlier this month after negotiating with former owner Gary Mosca off and on for over a year.

"This is a big nut to crack. There were many different driving forces in our decision," said Ms. Maksy. "Derek and I have always believed in investing in real estate for our future. Plus, we're at the time of life, age-wise, where we still have energy and a desire to make something happen."

Though neither Maksy plays golf, the course abuts their backyard. They built a home in 2009 on Crooked Lane that overlooks their cranberry bogs in the front, and the 12th fairway in the back.

"I do have a desire to learn the game, though," Ms. Maksy said.

Mr. Mosca remortgaged the country club with Morgan Stanley for $5 million at the height of the economy in 2006, but was struggling to stay afloat by 2007. He approached the town three times to make changes on the property. The 174-acre golf course was zoned for business, yet Mr. Mosca approached the selectmen about developing the land as a housing development. When that was shot down, he suggested developing a portion of the property for affordable housing, which can be built regardless of zoning, and downsizing from an 18-hole course to a nine-hole course. When that also met with less enthusiasm than hoped for, he changed plans yet again and gained an earth removal permit to remove an estimated 100,000 cubic yards to change the slope rating on one of the holes.

By 2010, Mr. Mosca was running out of options to keep the club. The Maksys made an offer on the property in September, but Mr. Mosca was still trying to hold on. He negotiated forbearance with his mortgage holder to prevent foreclosure twice; the second forbearance was signed on April 20, 2011, just half an hour before the scheduled auction of the property was to begin. The two parties started negotiating again in May. The property changed hands just days before a second auction was scheduled this month.

"This has been Gary's baby for 22 years. It was difficult for him," Ms. Maksy said.

Ms. Maksy said the gravel removal impacted the course, which added to public perception over the past three years that the course was going downhill. There are drainage issues along some of the holes, the buildings are in disrepair, the restaurant is closed and a club house had irregular hours.

The Maksys hope to change all of that. They've changed the name of the facility to Lakeville Golf Club, Inc. They plan to continue to offer a regulation 18-hole public golf facility and club house with personal service and quality programs. Ms. Maksy noted that they plan to reinvent the course, including making the cart paths more groomed and fixing the holes up. They will also renovate the clubhouse, which is 3,000 square feet with a full kitchen and bar. Ms. Maksy said she is hoping to have a general manager run the restaurant, which she plans to name "Marteeni's Lounge." She plans to keep the menu affordable and open to the public. Ms. Maksy is hoping to have the restaurant ready to open by March.

Mr. Maksy said he is also in hopes of eventually adding on to the restaurant and moving the Pro Shop to that building in order to create more of an event building and area where a tent could be installed for weddings. Existing staff members, including pro shop manager Lou Mincone, have been retained, and new jobs will be created when the restaurant opens.

"We're going to put the golf course back to the best shape it can be in," said Ms. Maksy.

Meanwhile, she and Derek plan to continue in their current professions. Madelyn is a co-owner and managing partner of UpTown Real Estate, and has been selling real estate in the area for the past 22 years. Derek is an electrical engineer for the Department of Transportation, as well as a member of the Lakeville Board of Selectmen. They have two daughters; Cassidy, a freshman at Bryant University, and Madison, a freshman at Apponequet High School.

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